Christie is moving... yet again!

Surprise! If you did not expect it, or do not know why, it is true. I am moving to Deer Valley Ranch to be an office assistant, and honestly, I did not know it was true until this past Tuesday. I am sending this to you to explain a little of God’s work in my life back here in America since leaving Australia in November of 2020.

I’ve thought about switching jobs for a while, but I wasn’t sure if that was just me, or rather in God’s plan. I have been frustrated with myself at my job—not at all because of a negative atmosphere—but rather I felt I was a bit incapable of doing the job, even though it was being an administrative office assistant as well.

Granted my manager did not say anything about failure or poor performance, but it was my own train of thought. Due to the lack of studying anything medical, as well as my own lack of remembering certain things for very long, I felt I could not offer anything complete to the patient (besides scheduling, giving them vitamins and cleaning the laundry, kitchen or lobby), and always had to hand it off to someone else for a complete solution.

I took a day off work in early August to be with my Fellowship group in Buena Vista, CO and got to visit a friend who I had known by being an intern at Windy Gap, the Young Life camp in NC, in summer of 2006! At that time, I had admitted to him I actually would love to move there as I truthfully had been feeling that Denver was becoming overpacked. Even more so than before.

He mentioned a few places to work, and one stuck out to me—Deer Valley Ranch. If not at a Young Life camp, I would love to work at a ranch! He said he would look to see if any openings occurred, and actually after a few weeks I decided to look for myself. So, I typed in Deer Valley Ranch in Indeed.com and found a listing there! It had only been displayed one day, but after reading the job description I was quick to apply. A friend from church helped edit my cover letter, and I submitted it ASAP.

Then the next day, which happened to be my birthday (August 31st), I got a call from the manager. He invited me to come up there that weekend, so I did, and I felt the interview went well. I was able to admit the story of my injury and my life thereafter, as well as meet a few of the staff there, help in the kitchen, meet the owner’s wife and sister-in-law, and even get to ride in the vans that would take guests to the locations of the wedding going on at the ranch. (One of the major events that occur at the ranch besides having weekly retreats (summer), they host weddings (fall and spring). The ranch has two beautiful sites at which the weddings occur, and the guests are welcome to stay in the ranch accommodations.

I was invited again the next weekend. They paid for my gas, so I helped with a retreat. And at that time, they were in deep need of help in the kitchen, so that is where I spent my time. After producing a fabulous lunch and great dinner with just a couple others, I was exhausted, but felt I had experienced some of what working at the ranch was like, and I truly felt God was leading me there.

I won’t be making very much money, but enough to live on and one of the most admirable benefits of this job is that they will let me live there… for free. Granted the room has not been updated yet, so at first, I will have to stay in the summer staff bunkhouse, but honestly that is not an issue to me as I have just spent 14 months sleeping in a bunkbed… in Australia.

So that is why I am moving again, and even though I am extremely excited, a little sadness obviously comes on me at times. I have just come back to Denver… and yet now I am leaving it again. I truly feel that God is leading me this way, but then at times I wonder if it is true… or rather just my heart’s desire. I realized recently that there was one time before when I thought I was going the right way, and then a sudden event occurred that did not leave such pleasant aftereffects (feel free to ask me if you do not know what I am talking about… and in fact that has occurred several times in my life so you may have to pick which story you want to hear).

And yet, I must remember that God has been there with me no matter what happens. He has taken me through some no-so-fun events in my life, but once the event is over, I am truly thankful to Him for having brought me through because I hope to share with others how powerful He can be and the love that He has for each of us.

And now, as usual, I am asking for prayer:

First, a thanks to God because I posted on Facebook a need for someone to take over my lease for my apartment, and already someone has taken a tour, applied and has been accepted!
Pray for packing: that I can get everything out of here and into my Aunt/Uncle’s who live in Castle Rock, but have enough to live temporarily at the ranch in the bunkhouse, and yet be able to take most of it later into the room they are giving me
For a safe drive there
That the room they are giving me is safe and I will not feel alone
That I will find a church in Buena Vista
That I will be able to live fully for God there and share His love with/for others
This work is on a ranch and obviously there are horses. If, or rather when I ride there, God will keep me completely safe, and truly bring back the joy that horses brought me before
At the camp, I hope to make part of my job writing articles/blogs so you can pray that I will have the time and energy